: Am I crazy or can I bevel the edges with a block plan and still get
: a fair, tight fit?

Sure you can. It takes a little longer to get it perfect but it's not difficult. Pre-milled bead and cove WRC strips are costly. Some folks use strips with square edges and staple them on dry then add an epoxy wash to fill the cracks; if you are content with a painted hull that works fine and saves a lot of time.

You will acquire the woodworking skills you will need as you go along if you don't already have them, but sharp tools are essential from the get-go. I found a sharpening jig and Japanese water stone a worthwhile purchase, mine came with lots of information about tool sharpening, and a good set of chisels makes work more pleasant. If you already know and have all that stuff please forgive me!